I have a 1992 MR2 G Limited Automatic. I had a reconditioned engine put in it in 2009 due to the original one having a head gasket problem and have had niggly problems ever since.
Firstly the car seems to pick the wrong gears when cold and doesn't start away in Drive. You have to manually use 1, 2 and then Drive for at least 10 minutes of driving. Once warm, the car's great. Should I get someone to replace the thermostat - I've read some other leads which suggest this!
Secondly, it seems to run/smell hot and ticks when you've reached your destination. Someone said 'they all do that' but I'm not entirely sure - do they normally run hot. Could it be why the head gasket went on the original engine.
Thirdly, in Nov/December the alternator packed up - so I had it reconditioned and decided to garage it over the winter and keep it as a summer car. It was MOT'd in July and started being driven again. It's now August and the alterator seems to be on it's way out again - wipers slow, electric windows slow and lights all lit up on the dash. Is everything above all related?? I haven't a clue where to start.

Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.

Related Questions:

The only way pressure can build up in the radiator is for combustion gasses to leak into the cooling system. This is usualy from a blown head gasket, a cracked cylinder head or a porous block. These things should have been checked for when the engine was rebuilt. Assuming it was done by an engine reconditioning service.

Check all the wiring connections that you loosened or took off when you removed the head. something is loose or disconnected ,eg., ground wires .
Make sure you have spark at spark plugs whemn cranking ,and fuel pressure.
Did you try spraying starting-fluid in the intake, see if the engine runs for a little bit.
Compression to be anything above 100 psi will firean engine ,sometimes lower too.

The best check is fill the radiator with water when the engine is running and see if the water blows out the top of the rad. it it does then you have cylinder head problem's if not a new rad. will sort it. Cheers

if yoiu have an oil pressure gauge is the pressure good? check the pressure and also cjeck the thermostat and water pump those are major causes of overheating if you have water in your oil ( check dipstick for 9oil and if its foamy and light brown you have a head gasket problem if not its something else of what Imentioned)

These vehicles are historic for head gasket problems. Ford had issued a recall because there where so many problems. The new head gasket is a different material than the original. Cost to replace varies by shop and geographic location, plan on around 1100 bucks.

Hooking up proper test equipment to the engine is the best way to check for a bad head gasket; usually, air is injected from a air compresser hose into the spark plug holes, with that cylinder having the valves closed. If coolant starts to bubble out of the coolant filler tube, it would then be safe to pronounce the gasket bad. Try some SteelSeal.